We are fortunate to have had, and still have, many fine authors in our midst who love writing books about Norwich and Norfolk for the rest of us to enjoy and treasure.
As time marches on and our city and county continue to change they become more important than ever. We can learn so much from local history and we should consider the past while planning the future.
One talented writer and man of the church who deserves to be remembered is the Rev Claude Messent, the author of no less than 14 books and how people loved reading his regular articles in the Eastern Daily Press, Eastern Evening News and Norwich Mercury.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to have met this much-loved architect turned parson and brilliant writer before his death in 1975 and, thanks to the books, his memory lives on.
Born in Norwich he went to the old High School for Boys. He qualified as an architect in the city and went on to be ordained at Bradford Cathedral and serving as a vicar in Yorkshire before returning to Norfolk working as rector of Wramplingham with Barford and Stibbard.
His first book Old Cottages and Farmhouses of Norfolk was illustrated with his brilliant sketches…he went on to write many more on architecture, round tower churches, weather vanes, various travel guides and more. His last book was on the architecture at the Royal Estate at Sandringham.
And then there was the best-seller on Norwich Door Knockers which we highlight today.
In the 1930s he started a series of sketches and stories about the knockers in the Eastern Evening News and it was so popular that, following the war, the book came out in 1948.
It was the first one to have been written about the knockers, ancient and modern, and what fascinating tales they have to tell.
A tribute to the art and craft of the blacksmith since mediaeval times.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here